SW11_Saint

No. But they are interested in two ex-Saints managers according to BBC, Strachan and Pearson. No surprise Pearson is attracting attention - his abilities were there for all to see (well, all but one person... Doh! said I'd stop harking back to that man...). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/8317621.stm

Yes, that's the one.

I remember that Wendy House - on the hill up towards Bitterne? When getting the bus over to our relatives in Thornhill, we always wanted to sit on the "Wendy House side" so we could see it!

Talking of Woolies - does anyone remember the mechanical coin operated "amusement" they had in the back? It was a Dalek which you sat in and could rotate and move the arms up and down. There may have been another one too (something to do with Batman?). Also, there was the old rocking horse in Tyrrell & Green's...

You've just broken another memory - I remember the original Sainsburys too! Was definitely where you describe. For some reason I remember my mum buying their cans of shandy (blue tin with a picture of a glass on it) - height of sophistication, we used to have a shandy with our sunday dinner!

Re. McFisheries - you may be right. I asked my mum tonight who said it was definitely on the precinct (or actually in those days it was still a road I think). I thought it was on the Lyons side, but I think you may be right.

Classic! I think we did a similar circuit, as I guess did every other So'ton kid in the 70's. My heart used to sink when we went into M&S (not as "interesting" as it is now to kids with toys/food etc.) as it used to take ages as my mum would invariably meet tons of old friends and stop and natter with them!

"10p of chips and scraps" - what a belter! The original fast food!

I remember McFisheries - was it up by the original Virgin Records? In fact, it might have even been the site where Virgin moved into (this is the old hippie Virgin Records, rather than the modern megastore). I used to play with their plastic green fern things they displayed around the fish. Also, do you remember Lyon's tea/coffee shop on the high street? Was opposite where the old M&S was.

It's a cracking photo - I was famous at school for 15 minutes! I remember we stopped on the way up at some pub/social club around London. Some woman asked Sean (my mate) and I who we thought would win - I said Saints, and he said Crystal Palace. She replied "Well, at least he's being honest" which gave me the right hump and I thought of her when we scored our second to make it safe! Also had two right @rsey Palace fans (in their fedora's) near us in the ground. I got great delight from their faces at the end too - also vividly remember the Malcolm Allison fedora stomping episode. I too will always think of the banjos when I think of that day - it really was a cracking atmosphere on that coach. As you say, a lot of proper old Saints men who really made the most of their day out. Thanks for posting - have left a note on your blog too, great reading!

My GOD!!!! How embarrassing - the chubby kid, centre, with the pork pie hat and holding out the Saints scarf is ME!!!! What a find! It was definitely the semi (I couldn't get a ticket for the final...). The chap to my right is the landlords son, my mate from back then. What a day!

Cheers. Funny how the advent of the first "fast food" outlets were a real event. I think me and my mates might even have gone to town especially to hang out there when we were (pre pub) kids. How sad. Talking of pubs, is The Running Horse still around or has that gone? I went to the semi-final in '76 in the coaches from there, great atmosphere there and back with booze, packed lunches and banjo players on the coach. We even got our photo on the front of the Echo, pictured just before we set off. There was also a pub right opposite, but can't remember what it was called (actually, think it's just come to me - Spa Tavern? - was always a "starting off" pub on a Sat night).

Yes, couple of times. Used to go there regularly as a toddler, and around the little ponds just adjacent. Is it still there? Silly question probably...

Huckleberrys!!! Totally forgotten about that - was that the first (post-Wimpey) "fast food" burger bar in So'ton? I was thinking it was Burger King or McDonalds - remind me again, where was it? Didn't the old Wimpey by Bargate become a McDonalds, or was that Huckleberry's first?

It's amazing the education this thread is giving me! - really fascinating. I know Hinkler Road well as I have relatives who live in Thornhill, but was totally unaware of the history behind the name. Cheers.

There was always a tradition on the 'Monster Coach' of letting him get towards the doors, then driving off for a bit... believe it may have come from when he was being chased by opposing fans and the bus went off as he ran towards it (Chelsea? - could explain the end of that song about him - "he only runs when the Chelsea come"). Someone on here must know the full story.

"'Humps' for 1/2 Mile" - you couldn't make it up!

Those Haircut 100 days!!!

Another, sadly deceased, So'ton legend not mentioned yet - Jim Redpath ("Southamptons biggest psychopath" as the song went). (or was it Ripath? was never sure).

What a shame, he was a lovely bloke. RIP.

Good things come to those who wait... ... and even to those who get jittery and start asking when we should sack AP!

Get in!!!!

Is it Roy Phillips? He used to sing lead in a band that used to busk in front of Top Shop in the 80's (they used to wear fez's if memory serves). Not sure if this is the same lot, but he looks like him (looked a bit like Roland Gift from FYC in his younger days). Used to go to my school, as did his brother Lee who died young I believe. Think Roy also played for the Southampton Seahawks American Football team. Couple of other memories while I'm at it... Godwin's fish & chips - behind Edwin Jones, back of Queensway. Happy memories there. Also, McQueen - up near Tyrrell & Green near that Coffee Shop. THE place to buy your denim in the 80's (from 'Gay Robin' the manager).

Lordy... I remember him!

Yes, I think you, rather she, is right!